Vacuum cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

Vacuum cleaning apparatus has a hollow body providing a path of flow for air from a suction inlet to an outlet. An agitator, which is at the vicinity of the suction inlet and driven by an electric motor, has its opposite ends journaled in bearings which are vertically movable on the hollow body and biased downward to urge the agitator against a surface being cleaned.

0 United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,802,026

Crener Apr. 9, 1974 VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS 2,614,283 10/1952 Thomwald 15/372 x [75] Inventor: Bengt Olof Crener, Taby, Sweden 3639941 2,1972 Kmvan et [73] Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux, Stockholm, Primary ExaminerBilly J. Wilhite Sweden Assistant Examiner-C. K. Moore Filed: y 3, 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Edmund A. Fenander [21] Appl. No.: 268,557 [57] ABSTRACT Vacuum cleaning apparatus has a hollow body provid- [52] US. Cl. 15/372, 15/392 ing a p th of flow for air from a suction inlet to an [51] Int. Cl A47! 9/04 utlet. An agitator, which is at the vicinity of the suc- [58] Field of Search. 15/368, 372, 392 tion inlet and driven by an electric moto has it pposite ends journaled in bearings which are vertically [56] References Cited movable 0n the hollow body and biased downward to UNITED STATES PATENTS urge the agitator against a surface being cleaned.

1,973,679 9/1934 Bass l5/392 X 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In view of the present trend toward rugs and carpets having a relatively high nap, it is desirable to vary the height of agitators on vacuum cleaning apparatus with respect to the surface being cleaned to adjust the agitator at the optimum cleaning height at the suction inlet of the apparatus and prevent overloading of the driving means therefor.

2. Description of the Prior Art In known vacuum cleaning apparatus of the agitator type the apparatus is movable over a surface to be cleaned by wheels located at the vicinity of the agitator which is positioned at the suction inlet. Manually operable mechanism is provided to raise and lower the wheels which in turn moves the agitator up and down, respectively, with respect to the surface being cleaned. This is objectionable because the person operating the vacuum cleaning apparatus must always adjust the vertical position of the agitator when cleaning rugs and carpets of different nap height to obtain optimum cleaning efficiency of the agitator while preventing overloading the driving means therefor, such as an electric motor, for example.

Further, it has been proposed to provide mechanism for raising and lowering the supporting wheels of vacuum cleaning apparatus responsive to movement of the manipulating handle thereto, such vertical movement of the wheels in turn effecting vertical movement of the agitator toward and from a surface being cleaned. This is objectionable for several reasons, one being that it is not convenient for a person to be shifting the handle while performing a cleaning operation and another being that the need for shifting the handle always occurs after an operating condition arises that precipitates such need. Further, the person using the vacuum cleaning apparatus more than likely will perform a cleaning operation with the agitator at a vertical position which is unduly high and not at the correct height to perform optimum cleaning of a surface.

It also has been proposed to journal the opposite ends of an agitator in the parallel arms of a U-shaped bracket having its closed end laterally offset from and alongside of the agitator. The arms, the outer free ends of which are mounted for pivotal movement on the vacuum cleaning apparatus, angularly move to raise and lower the agitator responsive to the biasing action of a single spring acting directly on the elongated closed end of the U-shaped bracket. This is objectionable because the agitator is biased downward by a force which is at an angle to the vertical due to the tilting movement of the U-shaped bracket. And more importantly, this known construction requires considerable space in the apparatus and is expensive to manufacture which also is objectionable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of my invention to provide an improvement in vacuum cleaning apparatus of the agitator type in which the agitator automatically moves vertically on the apparatus responsive to the load on the apparatus.

More particularly, it is an object to provide such an improvement in which the agitator automatically moves vertically on the apparatus responsive to the height of the nap of the rug or carpet being cleaned.

It is a further object to provide such an improvement in which an agitator, which may be driven by an electric motor, has its opposite ends journaled in bearings which are vertically movable on the apparatus and biased downward to urge the agitator against a surface being cleaned.

In accordance with my invention I accomplish this by providing members which are mounted for vertical movement on the wall structure of vacuum cleaning apparatus and supporting in such members the journaling means at the opposing ends of the agitator. In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein the members supporting the journaling means are biased vertically downward by a pair of coil springs which function in such manner that tilting of the members from the vertical is avoided during vertical movement thereof at the wall structure of the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and in section, taken at line 11 of FIG. 2 of vacuum cleaning apparatus embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly broken away and in section, of the vacuum cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to illustrate details more clearly;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken at line 55 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, the vacuum cleaning apparatus l0 embodying my invention includes a hollow body 11 movable over a surface to be cleaned with a pair of wheels 12 at the rear thereof and a smooth bottom portion 14 which glides over the surface. The hollow body 11 is manipulated over the surface by an upstanding handle 15, the bottom part of which is shown in FIG. 1. The handle I5 is connected at its lower end at 15a to the hollow body at the rear thereof. Within the hollow body 11 are disposed a motor-fan unit 16 and a rotatable agitator 17 having bristles l8 distributed along its length.

The motor-fan unit 16 comprises a motor 19 having a housing 20 and a fan 21. The shaft of the motor 19 is journaled in any suitable manner in bearings (not shown) provided in the motor housing 20. To the motor shaft is fixed the hub 21a of the fan 21. An endless belt 22 is disposed about an annular groove 21b in the hub 21a and an annular groove 17a in the agitator 17.

A casing 23, which forms a part of the hollow body 1 1, is disposed about the motor 19 and envelops at least the lower end thereof, as seen in FIG. 1. The casing 23 includes a bottom transverse wall 23a having a central opening 24 through which the fan hub 210 extends.

Air and dust are drawn into the bottom of the hollow body 11 through a suction inlet 25 at the bottom 14. The central opening 24 in the transverse wall 23a serves as a passageway through which dust-laden air passes from the suction inlet 25 into the interior of the casing 23. The casing 23 forms part of the path of flow for air from the suction inlet 25 to an outlet 26 from which air is discharged into a dust collector 27, such as a cloth bag, for example, which is detachably connected in any suitable manner (not shown) to the casing 23. The dust collector 27, which extends upward alongside the handle 15, may be connected to the upper end of the handle in any suitable manner (not shown).

The fan 21 is of the centrifugal type and includes the hub 21a and a disk 21c fixed thereto which is of dishlike form. The disk 21c, which has its convex side 21d facing the bottom transverse wall 23a of the casing, is of such size that a gap 28 is provided between the peripheral edge of the disk and the side wall of the casing 23. A plurality of fan blades 21e are fixed to the convex side 21d of the disk 21c. The blades 21e, upon rotation of the fan 21, induce flow of dust-laden air from the inlet 25 to the outlet 26.

The agitator 17 comprises an outer sleeve 29 which is disposed about and envelops an inner sleeve 30, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The outer sleeve 29 may be formed of a suitable material like plastic, for example, to which are fixed several rows of the bristles 18, as seen in FIG. 2. The bristles 18 have been omitted from FIGS. 4 and in order to illustrate other features of the vacuum cleaning apparatus more clearly. The bristles 18 project radially outward from the surface of the outer sleeve 29 and adjacent rows of bristles, which are of helical form, are angularly spaced apart.

A stub shaft 32 is provided at each end of the agitator 17. The inner ends or sections 32a of the stub shafts 32, which are frictionally retained within the ends of the inner sleeve 30 and are recessed at 33, are correctly positioned longitudinally of the inner sleeve by cap screws 34 which pass through aligned openings in the outer and inner agitator sleeves 29 and 30 and in the stub shafts 32.

The portions of the stub shafts 32 projecting outward from the inner sections 32a thereof include three axially extending sections 32b, 32c and 32d. The diameter of the sections 32b are larger than the diameters of the inner sections 3211 and may be referred to as flanged sections. The diameters of the sections 320, which may be referred to as intermediate sections, are materially smaller than the flanged sections 32b and about the same as the diameters of the recesses 33. The diameters of the sections 32d, which may be referred to as the outer sections, are smaller than the diameters of the intermediate sections 32c.

The stub shafts 32 are journaled by bearings 34 positioned at the outer sections 32d thereof. The bearings 34 include inner and outer races 35 and 36, respectively, formed to receive balls 37 therebetween in a conventional manner.

In accordance with my invention I provide vertically movable members 38 on the hollow body 11 for supporting the bearings 34 and resilient means 39 for biasing the members 38 vertically downward to urge the agitator 17 against a surface being cleaned. The bearing supporting members 38 are in the form of shallow cups each having a cavity at the front face 38a thereof and a more or less flat surface at the rear face 38b thereof.

The front faces 38a of the members 38 are flanged at their vertical edges at 40 and formed with ring-shaped or annular-shaped flanges or rims 41. The cavities of the cup-shaped members 38 have an inner section 38c of one diameter and an outer section 38d having a larger diameter. When the stub shafts 32 are supported by the members 38 the bearings 34 are seated in the outer sections 38d of the cup-shaped members 38 and the extreme outer ends of the outer sections 32d of the stub shafts 32 extend into the inner sections 380 of the cavities in the members 38, as shown in FIG. 5. The outer sections 32d of the shafts 32 are formed with grooves 39' to receive split washers 40' to reduce end play of the agitator 17.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the bearing support members 38, which also may be referred to as end caps for the bearings 34, are positioned in pockets 42 formed within the hollow body 11 at the opposing side walls thereof at each end of the agitator 17. As shown, each pocket 42 is defined by a portion of the side wall 1 1a, an end vertical wall section 43 and an L- shaped wall section 44 having one arm 44a perpendicular to the side wall 110 and projecting inward therefrom. Further, each pocket 42 is defined by a top wall section 45 within the hollow member 11 and a bottom wall section 46 projecting inward from the bottom of the side wall 110, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

When the parts just described are assembled in the manner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the inner races 35 of the bearings 34 are fixed to the outer sections 32d of the stub shafts 32 and the outer races 36 thereof are firmly seated in the outer sections 38d of the cavities in the members 38. The extreme outer ends of the outer sections 32d of the stub shafts and washers 40' are disposed in the inner sections 380 of the cavities in the members 38 which are provided with vent openings 47 extending to the rear faces 38b thereof, as shown in FIG. 5.

The ring-shaped flanges or rims 41 at the front faces 38a of the bearing support members 38 receive the grooves 48a of ring-shaped members 48 which are of U form in transverse section and have spaced outer and inner arms 48b and 48c, respectively. The outer free ends of the outer arms 48b bear against the front faces 38a of the members 38 and the heels of the inner arms 481: seat in the notched ends 30a of the inner sleeves 30 of the agitator 17 and fixed thereto. Hence, the ringshaped members 48 function as positioning and holding members and accurately position and hold the agitator 17 and stub shafts 32 and bearing support members 38 in end-to-end relation between the pockets 42 at the opposing side walls 1 1a of the hollow body 11. Further, the ring-shaped members 48 serve as washers which are rotatable with the agitator l7 and in rotatable contact with members 38 which are nonrotatable. In the assembled relation of the parts being described and shown in the drawing, it will be noted in FIG. 5 that the holding members 48 function to hold the flanges 40 at the front face 38a of the member 38 against the outer edge of the vertical wall section 43 and the outer surface of the arm 44b of the L-shaped vertical wall section 44b.

The members 38 are biased vertically downward by the resilient means 39 to urge the agitator 17 against a surface being cleaned. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 the resilient means 39 comprises a pair of helical springs 39a and 39b which are vertically disposed between the top wall section 45 within the hollow member 11 and the tops of the members 38.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the top portions of the members 38 are recessed to form a pair of small chambers 49 which are open at the rear faces 38b thereof. The upper surfaces of the members are provided with openings 50 through which the lower ends of the springs 39a and 39b extend into the chambers 49. Ferrules 51 formed of plastic and resilient in character are disposed in the chamber 49 and receive and frictionally hold the lower ends of the springs 39a and 39b in the chambers.

This can be readily done by pushing the ferrules 51 into the chambers 49 from the rear faces 38b of the members 38 and thereafter inserting the lower ends of the springs into the ferrules through the openings 50 at the upper surfaces of the members 38.

During operation of the vacuum cleaning apparatus 10, the agitator 17 is driven by the motor 19 and endless belt 22 interconnecting the shaft of the motor and the agitator and resiliently biased toward the surface being cleaned by the springs 39a and 39b. When the apparatus is moved from a rug or carpet having a nap of one height to a rug or carpet having a nap of greater height and the load on the motor 19 and connecting belt 22 increases, the bearing support members 38 automatically move vertically upward in the pockets 42 against the downward biasing action of the springs 39a and 39b. Conversely, when the apparatus 10 now is moved over a rug or carpet having a nap of less height and the load on the motor 19 and endless belt 22 decreases, the bearing support members 38 move vertically downward in the pockets responsive to the biasing action of the springs 39a and 3%. Hence, it will now be understood that the agitator l7 automatically moves vertically downward and upward on the apparatus 10 responsive to the height of the nap of the rug or carpet being cleaned. In this way the driving belt 22 never can become overloaded and subject to such excessive forces that it will break and render the apparatus inoperative.

It will be seen that the springs 39a and 39b are disposed in vertical planes which are at opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the agitator and between vertical planes tangent to the diametrically opposing sides of the outer sleeve 29 of the agitator. With this construction the bearing support members 38 are acted upon in such a manner by the springs 39a and 39b that the downward forces produced to urge the agitator against a surface being cleaned are predominantly vertical and the members 38 will not tend to tilt from the vertical.

In FIG. 4, in the solid line position illustrated, the outer sleeve 29 of the agitator 17 is shown in its lower position with the bottom of the member 38 bearing against the bottom wall section 46 of the pocket 42. When the agitator 17 is functioning to clean a rug or carpet having a nap of such height that the motor 19 and driving belt become overloaded, the top and bottom of the outer sleeve 29 of the agitator 17 can move from the solid line positions to the dotted line positions A and B in FIG. 4, thus relieving the load on the driving means of the agitator.

The bearing support members 38 are not only vertically movable in the pockets 42 but also are movable horizontally therein, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. In order to keep the driving belt 22 taut, the bearing support members 38 are biased forward within the pockets 42 by resilient means in the form of helical springs 53 which are disposed between the rear vertical surfaces of the members 38 and the vertical wall sections 44. Hence, the helical springs 53 act on the agitator 17 in a forward direction at its opposite ends while the belt 22 is connected to the agitator at a region intermediate 5 its ends and counteracts the forward biasing action of 10 sition in FIG. 5 to a dotted line position C, thereby insuring that the belt 22 always will be taut when the apparatus 10 is being operated and effectively drive the agitator 17.

I claim:

1. Vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising a. a hollow body having an inlet for air and an outlet for discharging air therefrom,

b. means within said body providing a path of flow for sir between the inlet and outlet,

c. an agitator at the vicinity of the inlet,

d. driving means for rotating said agitator,

e. structure within said hollow body for mounting said agitator for rotation thereon about a substantially horizontal axis,

f. said mounting structure including journaling means at opposing ends of said agitator,

g. members vertically movable on said hollow body for supporting said journaling means,

h. means for biasing said members vertically downward to urge said agitator against a surface being cleaned,

i. said agitator including stub shafts extending from opposite ends thereof, said journaling means comprising bearings for said shafts, said members having cavities to receive and hold said bearings,

j. said hollow body including wall structure defining pockets, said members being disposed in said pockets and vertically movable therein,

k. said members having front and rear faces, the cavities in said members being at the front faces thereof, the rear faces of said members being substantially flat and movable over said wall structure defining said pockets, and means which is fixed to said agitator and rotatable therewith and cooperates with said members to retain and hold said members in said pockets,

1. said members being provided with vertically extending flanges at opposing vertical sides thereof, said retaining and holding means functioning to hold said flanges at said wall structure defining said pockets,

m. the front faces of said members being formed with circular rims about the cavities, and said retaining and holding means comprising parts of annular form which are U-shaped in section and have outer and inner arms, said U-shaped parts receiving said rims and in rotatable contact therewith.

2. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the ends of said agitator include components which are notched at their ends, the heels of the inner arms of said parts of annular form being fixed to the notched ends of said components.

3. Vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising a. a hollow body having an inlet for air and an outlet for discharging air therefrom,

b. means within said body providing a path of flow for air between the inlet and outlet,

c. an agitator at the vicinity of the inlet,

d. driving means for rotating said agitator,

e. structure within said hollow body for mounting said agitator for rotation thereon about a substantially horizontal axis,

f. said mounting structure including journaling means at opposing ends of said agitator,

g. members vertically movable on said hollow body for supporting said journaling means;

h. means for biasing said members vertically downward to urge said agitator against a surface being cleaned,

i. said agitator including stub shafts extending from opposite ends thereof, said journaling means comprising bearings for said shafts, said members having cavities to receive and hold said bearings,

j. said hollow body including wall structure defining pockets, said members being disposed in said pockets and vertically movable therein,

k. said members having front and rear faces, the cavities in said members being at the front faces thereof, the rear faces of said members being substantially flat and movable over said wall structure defining said pockets, and means which is fixed to said agitator and rotatable therewith and cooperates with said members to retain and hold said members in said pockets,

1. said means for biasing said members vertically downward comprising resilient elements disposed between the tops of said members and parts of said wall structure defining the ceilings of said pockets,

m. said resilient elements comprising vertically dis posed helical springs and the tops of said members being recessed to receive the lower ends of said springs,

n. said driving means for rotating said agitator comprising an electric motor having a shaft and an endless belt connecting said shaft and said agitator, said members also being horizontally movable in said pockets, and additional means for biasing said members horizontally in a direction to keep said belt taut.

4. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said additional biasing means includes horizontally disposed helical springs disposed between the sides of said members and parts of said wall structure defining vertical walls of said pockets, and said vertically disposed helical springs being movable horizontally at the ceilings of said pockets when horizontal movement is imparted to said members.

5. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the recesses in said members are formed by chambers which are open at the rear faces thereof, the top surfaces of said members being apertured to provide vertical passageways therefrom to said chambers.

6. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including ferrules in said chambers formed of material which is resilient in character and within which the lower ends of said springs are retained.

7. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which each of said members is provided with at least two springs at opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the axis about which said agitator rotates.

8. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said springs associated with each of said members are disposed between vertical planes tangent to diametrically opposing surfaces of said agitator.

9. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said springs are so constructed and arranged that said members are resiliently biased vertically downward by a predominantly vertical force. 

1. Vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising a. a hollow body having an inlet for air and an outlet for discharging air therefrom, b. means within said body providing a path of flow for air between the inlet and outlet, c. an agitator at the vicinity of the inlet, d. driving means for rotating said agitator, e. structure within said hollow body for mounting said agitator for rotation thereon about a substantially horizontal axis, f. said mounting structure including journaling means at opposing ends of said agitator, g. members vertically movable on said hollow body for supporting said journaling means, h. means for biasing said members vertically downward to urge said agitator against a surface being cleaned, i. said agitator including stub shafts extending from opposite ends thereof, said journaling means comprising bearings for said shafts, said members having cavities to receive and hold said bearings, j. said hollow body including wall structure defining pockets, said members being disposed in said pockets and vertically movable therein, k. said members having front and rear faces, the cavities in said members being at the front faces thereof, the rear faces of said members being substantially flat and movable over said wall structure defining said pockets, and means which is fixed to said agitator and rotatable therewith and cooperates with said members to retain and hold said members in said pockets, l. said members being provided with vertically extending flanges at opposing vertical sides thereof, said retaining and holding means functioning to hold said flanges at said wall structure defining said pockets, m. the front faces of said members being formed with circular rims about the cavities, and said retaining and holding means comprising parts of annular form which are U-shaped in section and have outer and inner arms, said U-shaped parts receiving said rims and in rotatable contact therewith.
 2. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the ends of said agitator include components which are notched at their ends, the heels of the inner arms of said parts of annular form being fixed to the notched ends of said components.
 3. Vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising a. a hollow body having an inlet for air and an outlet for discharging air therefrom, b. means within said body providing a path of flow for air between the inlet and outlet, c. an agitator at the vicinity of the inlet, d. driving means for rotating said agitator, e. structure within said hollow body for mounting said agitator for rotation thereon about a substantially horizontal axis, f. said mounting structure including journaling means at opposing ends of said agitator, g. members vertically movable on said hollow body for supporting said journaling means; h. means for biasing said members vertically downward to urge said agitator against a surface being cleaned, i. said agitator including stub shafts extending from opposite ends thereof, said journaling means comprising bearings for said shafts, said members having cavities to receive and hold said bearings, j. said hollow body including wall structure defining pockets, said members being disposed in said pockets and vertically movable therein, k. said members having front and rear faces, the cavities in said members being at the front faces thereof, the rear faces of said members being substantially flat and movable over said wall structure defining said pockets, and means which is fixed to said agitator and rotatable therewith and cooperates with said members to retain and hold said members in said pockets, l. said means for biasing said members vertically downward comprising resilient elements disposed between the tops of said members and parts of said wall structure defining the ceilings of said pockets, m. said resilient elements comprising vertically disposed helical springs and the tops of said members being recessed to receive the lower ends of said springs, n. said driving means for rotating said agitator comprising an electric motor having a shaft and an endless belt connecting said shaft and said agitator, said members also being horizontally movable in said pockets, and additional means for biasing said members horizontally in a direction to keep said belt taut.
 4. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said additional biasing means includes horizontally disposed helical springs disposed between the sides of said members and parts of said wall structure defining vertical walls of said pockets, and said vertically disposed helical springs being movable horizontally at the ceilings of said pockets when horizontal movement is imparted to said members.
 5. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the recesses in said members are formed by chambers which are open at the rear faces thereof, the top surfaces of said members being apertured to provide vertical passageways therefrom to said chambers.
 6. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including ferrules in said chambers formed of material which is resilient in character and within which the lower ends of said springs are retained.
 7. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which each of said members is provided with at least two springs at opposite sides of a vertical plane passing through the axis about which said agitator rotates.
 8. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said springs associated with each of said members are disposed between vertical planes tangent to diametrically opposing surfaces of said agitator.
 9. Vacuum cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said springs are so constructed and arranged that said members are resiliently biased vertically downward by a predominantly vertical force. 